Ranking The Teams #6-1, My Version: Super Six?

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I understand, this a little late, as Opening Day was Thursday, and the Red Sox didn’t look so great Thursday even though they are a part of this Top 6. But I figured I’d finish this series since there’s only one article left.

Welcome to the final article of my 2019 MLB preseason power rankings. This season, you could argue the Super Seven that was discussed a few years back still exists, except with different teams. The Red Sox, Cubs, Astros, and Yankees have remained elite, and despite declines by the Nationals, Indians, and Dodgers (probably) , new powerhouses in this league have arised. The Braves should be regular contenders now, the Cardinals could make a run with 1B Paul Goldschmidt here for the long run, and the Phillies should be competitive with Bryce Harper. But Philadelphia isn’t quite on the level of these other teams. So unless the Dodgers do stay elite after all, I think the Super Seven will become a Super Six. I will be discussing those six today and pointing out the Achilles Heel of each team. Click the links below for other articles in the series (I will add them as I post them):

2019 MLB Preseason Power Rankings Series:

Ranking The Teams #30-25, My Version: The Bottom of the Barrel

Ranking The Teams #24-19, My Version: Who will have to Wait till Next Year?

Ranking The Teams #18-13, My Version: Who else Misses out on Playoff Contention?

Ranking The Teams #12-7, My Version: Who has Playoff Chances?

Ranking The Teams #6-1, My Version: Super Six?

I also released my 3rd annual preseason Baseball Bits!

6. St. Louis Cardinals

The Case for the Cardinals

The Cardinals haven’t made the playoffs in a few years, sure. But the veterans they kept around from their last playoff run, like Matt Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, and Yadier Molina, are still reliable contributors. They have also boosted the team with younger talent, including SP Jack Flaherty, OFs Harrison Bader and UT Jose Martinez, and SS Paul DeJong. After adding star in Goldy, the Cardinals have the tools they need for contention. But how far can they go in such a tough division? They will have to get past their division rivals that are also contending, the Cubs and Brewers.

The Achilles Heel

The Cards’ rotation looks alright and its young core will keep the rotation elite for a long time. But right now they lack an ace. I don’t believe they can be a World Series contender without one. Whether they need a trade to find an ace or someone steps up as time passes, this could hold them back from serious contention and should be priority #1 for GM Steve Keim. Maybe Martinez could be a good trade piece now that 1B Paul Goldschmidt is on board.

Projected Finish: 93-69, 2nd in NL Central

5. Boston Red Sox

The Case for the Red Sox

The defending World Series champions had a relatively quiet off-season. They did retain most of the team from 2018 that won 108 games. But the bullpen has been their biggest issue, even with Craig Kimbrel. Without Craig Kimbrel, there is even more pressure on the rotation to succeed. This is especially true regarding Chris Sale and David Price. After Sale’s extension, both will be expected to to shine every start in order to be worth the money. Each start costs about $1 million dollars. Regardless of this pressure, the Red Sox should at least secure a Wild Card spot if they can’t beat out the Yankees in the AL East. They are still one of several powerhouses in the league.

The Achilles Heel

With Craig Kimbrel on the way out, the closer role is up for grabs. But if you look at the active pitchers on the roster, it’s hard to imagine any of them as a consistent closer. If the Red Sox wanted to repeat, they would’ve invested more in this bullpen rather than focusing so much on the rotation. They need to add a closer unless Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier, or someone else steps up soon.

Projected Finish: 93-69, 2nd in AL East

4. Atlanta Braves

The Case for the Braves

The Braves’ rebuild began to pay off last season as their younger players broke through. This off-season seemed quiet, but they filled a gaping hole at third by adding Josh Donaldson. They also brought back OF Nick Markakis, and they have reportedly been targeting a reunion with CL Craig Kimbrel. This small series of moves could make a big difference in Atlanta. These moves, alongside development of OF Ronald Acuna Jr. and 2B Ozzie Albies among other should transform the Braves from solely a division contender into a World Series contender. The Braves are my World Series winner this year. I expect 1B Freddie Freeman, Albies, Donaldson, and others to combine to make for one of the best lineups in the league.

The Achilles Heel

Health is definitely a concern, especially considering the fact that Atlanta will start the 2019 season with two starting pitchers on the IL. Donaldson is also injury prone, and if he goes down, Johan Camargo is the next best option at third base. I don’t trust Camargo as a starter. If the team stays healthy in the long run, they could be serious contenders. Otherwise, they could be in a bit of trouble.

Projected Finish: 93-69, 1st in NL East

3. Chicago Cubs

The Case for the Cubs

The Cubs may have been quiet this off-season, but a healthy Yu Darvish will boost the rotation, the bullpen has plenty of depth despite questions at closer, and the lineup is looking pretty solid. Their decision to move Javier Baez to shortstop full time and put Ben Zobrist at second is very smart, as SS Addison Russell was inconsistent and had some character issues. The Cubs have dominated in the National League ever since their World Series winning year in 2016, but with a health a concern and the division getting tougher, will the Cubs be able to keep up the good work?

The Achilles Heel

The Cubs were unable to do much this off-season, and they could have used another outfielder. LF Kyle Schwarber and RF Jason Heyward are viable starters, but they are very streaky and inconsistent. Albert Almora Jr. is the best option in center field. Chicago should have added another center fielder to start over Almora some days and fill in for Heyward and Schwarber during slumps.

Projected Finish: 94-68, 1st in NL Central

2. New York Yankees

The Case for the Yankees

After pairing new slugger Aaron Judge with Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees underperformed in 2018. Yes, they made the playoffs and won 100 games. But they were overshadowed and eliminated by their bitter rival, the Boston Red Sox. This year, the Red Sox will be without their star closer, while the Yankees fixed up a problematic rotation and built one of the most stacked bullpens in history. This will allow the Yankees to propel past the Red Sox and win the AL East. But in Boston and New York, it’s all about championships, and the Yankees aren’t will have to work for a World Series victory, even with the stacked roster.

The Achilles Heel

The Yanks have some nice pieces in their infield. But if Troy Tulowitzki and Greg Bird fail to stay healthy, they are left with D.J. LeMahieu as their best infielder. Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar have not reached their prime yet, and Luke Voit must still prove that 2018 was not a fluke. So I’m a bit concerned in terms of infield depth for the Yankees.

Projected Finish: 94-68, 1st in AL East

1. Houston Astros

The Case for the Astros

The Astros are two years removed from their World Series victory, a result of a 5-year rebuild that made the Astros one of the MLB’s worst for a good 2-3 year span. Now, the Astros are still one of the league’s elite teams, but they lost some of their starting rotation depth this off-season, forcing two starter-turned-relievers back into the rotation. They did bring in OF Michael Brantley and UT Aledmys Diaz, filling the hole UT Marwin Gonzalez left. Though Houston took a slight step back this off-season, I still have them as my AL West winners and the team with the best regular season record. Considering the young core they have put together in the last several years, they should be elite for a long, long, time now.

The Achilles Heel

Evan Gattis is no longer on the team, which means Tyler White must be trusted as Houston’s regular DH. This could be a prove-it situation for White, but if White struggles, what then? They could bring Gattis back, or they could just put Diaz back there. They could even call up Kyle Tucker to play DH. This one’s an easy fix, just something to keep an eye on.

Projected Finish: 96-66, 1st in AL West

That’s all for this year’s preseason MLB power rankings. Come back at the end of April for my first 2019 set of monthly power rankings.

Baseball Bits #12: Can Sox Repeat like Few Teams have?

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Welcome to my annual preseason Baseball Bits article!

If you were unaware, today marks 5 years since I started my Boston Sports Mania blog! The Red Sox were just about to begin their regular season when I started, and just like this year, they were coming off a World Series victory. On my first day, I posted an article titled “MLB 2014 Preview”, which included my predictions for the 2014 MLB season. I still write these prediction articles every year, including this year.

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I call March 25th my “blog-a-versary”, and this year is a big milestone. All of my opportunities are a result of this blog. Most recently, I delivered a motivational keynote speech about my story so far at the Visions of Community Conference hosted by the Federation for Children with Special Needs at the Boston Seaport World Trade Center (see below):

I started this blog to write about my favorite sports like baseball, which is what today’s post is about.

9de8f0c9-6ee9-4ee2-a397-8d905fbe772d — Top: After the Red Sox’s 100th win Bottom: After the Red Sox’s World Series win

In 2018 the Red Sox became the 16th team in the 162-game era to win over 100 regular season games and then go on to win the World Series. They were led by new manager Alex Cora and a new star in J.D. Martinez. But what most Boston sports fans are wondering about now is how the Red Sox will do in 2019 and whether they will repeat. I did some research on 100+ win World Series winners in the 162-game era and how they did in their next season below.

The Research

Baseball Bits #12_ 100-Win World Series Winners – Sheet1

The “Baseball Bits”

Note: In the context of this article, a team who repeats for 2 years in a row is counted for 1 repeat, 3 years in a row is counted for 2 repeats, 4 years in a row is counted for 3 repeats, etc

Only 23 of 115 (20%) World Series winners have repeated
In the 162-game era, only 16 of 57 (28%) 100-win teams have won the World Series, including the 2018 Red Sox
In the 162-game era, only 9 of 56 (16%) World Series winners excluding the 2018 Red Sox have repeated, with 4 of the teams repeating after 100-win seasons
Of the 15 100 win World Series winners excluding the 2018 Red Sox:9 teams (60%) made the playoffs4 teams (26.67% of the 15) repeated2 of those teams reached 100 wins when they repeated:1976 Cincinnati Reds
- 1978 New York Yankees
2 of those teams failed to reach 100 wins again when they repeated:1962 New York Yankees
- 1999 New York Yankees (repeated again in 2000
The Red Sox did not win the World Series in an 100 win season in the 162-game era until 2018
Another 2 of the 15 (13.33%) lost the World Series:1968 St. Louis Cardinals
- 1978 Baltimore Orioles
3 of the 15 (20%) lost in the LCS2010 New York Yankees
- 2017 Chicago Cubs
- 2018 Houston Astros
6 of the 15 (40%) missed the playoffs entirely1969 Detroit Tigers
- 1970 New York Mets
- 1977 Cincinnati Reds
- 1979 New York Yankees
- 1985 Detroit Tigers
- 1987 New York Mets
Each of the last 3 100-win World Series winners lost in the LCS the next year

The Verdict

Based on the research, I believe the Red Sox have a 20 to 25% chance to repeat. I believe that there is still a select group of elite teams that could win the World Series this year. World Series repeats are less common during the 162-game era as just 9 of 56 (16%) World Series winners repeated. However, 4 of those teams were 100-win teams. World Series winners who did not reach 100 wins in this time frame only repeated 12.1% of the time since 1961. That’s more like a 1 in 8 chance. 100-win World Series winners have repeated 26.67% of the time during the same time frame. I think the significance of being a 100-win team helps improve the Sox chances to repeat.

However, as much as I hate to admit it as a huge Boston fan, I am sticking with my prediction that the Sox will fail to reverse the trend of World Series winners. I think they will lose in the ALCS to either the New York Yankees or Houston Astros. The odds are stacked against the Sox reaching 100 wins as well since only 4 of the 15 100-win World Series winners even reached 100 wins again the next year. I don’t think the Red Sox will reach the century mark but will come close at somewhere between 92 and 96 games. A bullpen with no proven closer to start the season helps support my prediction A World Series repeat is unlikely to happen, though you shouldn’t rule it out yet.

Alex Cora did wonders for this team last year, so maybe he’ll be able to recreate the magic of 2018. If he can, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be 2019 AL Manager of the Year.

That’s all for today’s Baseball Bits. After all I have accomplished in the last 5 years, I look forward to creating even better content over the next 5 years. Stay tuned for more soon, including the next portion of my MLB Preseason Power Rankings.

MLB 2019 Predictions: Who will Follow in Houston and Chicago’s Footsteps Post-Rebuild?

March 3, 2019March 3, 2019 Andrew Roberts MLB, Picks & Previews, Red Sox Aaron Judge, Amed Rosario, Andrew McCutchen, Anibal Sanchez, Anthony Rendon, Billy Hamilton, Brian Dozier, Bryce Harper, Byron Buxton, C.J. Cron, Carlos Gomez, Charlie Morton, Chris Sale, Christian Yelich, Clayton Kershaw, Corey Kluber, Craig Kimbrel, Cutch, Dallas Keuchel, Dee Gordon, Eloy Jimenez, Eric Hosmer, Fernando Tatis Jr., Forrest Whitley, Freddie Freeman, Garrett Richards, Giancarlo Stanton, Goldy, Gregory Polanco, Ian Kinsler, J.D. Martinez, J.T. Realmuto, Jacob DeGrom, Jean Segura, Jed Lowrie, Jesus Aguilar, Jharel Cotton, Jhoulys Chacin, Joey Gallo, Joey Votto, Jonathan Lucroy, Jordan Lyles, Jose Altuve, Jose Ramirez, Josh Donaldson, Juan Soto, Julio Teheran, Jurickson Profar, Justin Verlander, Kenley Jansen, Kyle Tucker, Lance McCullers, Lance McCullers Jr., Luis Urias, Mad Max, Manny Machado, Marco Estrada, Matt Joyce, Matt Kemp, Max Scherzer, Michael Brantley, Michael Pineda, Miguel Sano, Mike Fiers, Mike Trout, Mitch Keller, MLB, MLB 2019 Predictions, MLB Predictions, NFL, Nolan Arenado, Nomar Mazara, Patrick Corbin, Paul Goldschmidt, Peter Alonso, Predictions, Robinson Cano, Sean Manaea, Sergio Romo, Shohei Ohtani, Spring Training, Starling Marte, Stephen Strasburg, Todd Frazier, Trevor Williams, Tyler Skaggs, Victor Robles, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Walker Buehler, world series, Yasiel Puig, Yasmani Grandal, Yu Darvish, Zack Greinke

The time has finally come. If you are reading this, the NFL season is over, both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado have signed, and Spring Training has begun. After a long off-season, baseball is finally back, and it is time for my MLB 2019 Predictions. I will be predicting each team’s win-loss record, sharing my projected playoff bracket, and sharing some award predictions. My projected World Series winner is a team that began rebuilding a couple years after the Astros and Cubs rebuilds and has now followed in their footsteps to contention. Keep reading to find out who that team is and how they will achieve a World Series victory.

Part I: Projected Records

American League

AL East

New York Yankees (94-68) (2nd Seed in AL Playoffs)
Boston Red Sox (93-69) (4th Seed in AL Playoffs)
Toronto Blue Jays (80-82)
Tampa Bay Rays (75-87)
Baltimore Orioles (67-95)

2018 was Boston’s year. They built up the roster preparing for a World Series, and now the damage is done. Expect a mild World Series hangover due to the departure of closer Craig Kimbrel and the loss of momentum. If Kimbrel returns, they may be more equipped to repeat. But right now, as much as I hate to admit it, the Yankees have the most talent in the division. Their rotation depth issues are finally fixed, the bullpen could go down in record books, and the lineup is still flooded with big hitters, including the superstar duo of Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge. Expect New York to win the division this time around, but the Red Sox should still easily score a Wild Card spot.

Toronto should be moving quickly in their rebuild thanks to a talented group of prospects including the leagues #1 prospect, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Now, they are an extra starting pitcher away from becoming a sub .500 team close to contention. Remember, they are just a couple years removed from the start of a rebuild. But this group of prospects will give them a respectable major league roster by the end of the season. With Toronto on the rise, the Rays will take a step back. The Rays never really replaced 1B C.J. Cron, OF Carlos Gomez, or reliever Sergio Romo. If they want to keep using an opener, they’ll need to beef up the bullpen. Otherwise, expect significant regression in 2019. They were right on the verge of contention in 2018. Had they beefed up the roster a little more, they might have had playoff chances this year. But instead, they’ll sit towards the bottom of the AL East. However, the Orioles will remain in the AL East basement after a 47 win season. The Orioles finally began a full rebuild in 2018, but this may be a long, painful rebuild considering their 2018 final record.

AL Central

Cleveland Indians (89-73) (3rd Seed in AL Playoffs)
Chicago White Sox (82-80)
Minnesota Twins (80-82)
Kansas City Royals (68-94)
Detroit Tigers (66-96)

Despite an underwhelming off-season, the Indians should be able to stay atop the AL Central. In most other divisions, the Indians would have to fight for a Wild Card spot, but in the AL Central, they should have an easier route to the playoffs, as none of the other teams in their division are ready for contention. Despite coming up short in the Manny Machado sweepstakes, the White Sox made several improvements this off-season that can assist their young core in the next step towards contention. If they add a starter or two and another infielder, they could be chasing the Indians for the division by 2020. The Twins won’t see a significant improvement this year, but hopefully the return of SP Michael Pineda and better years from Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton will help them move up the standings slightly.

That leaves the Royals and Tigers, two rebuilding teams, in the basement of the AL Central. With Billy Hamilton on board and some of their younger players ready to start, the Royals may see slight improvement. But it will take a couple years for the Tigers to do the same.

AL West

Houston Astros (96-66) (1st Seed in AL Playoffs)
Los Angeles Angels (86-76) (5th Seed in AL Playoffs)
Oakland Athletics (80-82)
Texas Rangers (73-89)
Seattle Mariners (70-92)

Though the lineup will be better with the addition of LF Michael Brantley, the Astros’ rotation took a significant hit thanks to the free agent departures of Dallas Keuchel and Charlie Morton and an injury to Lance McCullers Jr. If the rotation does well without Morton and Keuchel, the Astros could win another World Series. No matter what, I think they’ll win the division, but if the rotation struggles I wouldn’t expect a deep playoff run.

The Angels will also sneak into the playoffs in an extremely top-heavy American League. In my eyes, the American League will have three 90+ win teams: the Astros, Yankees, and Red Sox. That leaves the door open for slightly above average teams like the Angels to make the playoffs. Led by Mike Trout and the rest of the big-hitting lineup, they’ll snag a Wild Card spot.

The Athletics will take a step back this year after a playoff appearance in 2018. The rotation will be without Sean Manaea and Jharel Cotton for a good portion of the season. Mike Fiers and Marco Estrada cannot lead this rotation alone. Plus, the only Jed Lowrie replacement the A’s were able to find was former Rangers utility man Jurickson Profar. The losses of Jonathan Lucroy and Matt Joyce will also make an impact on the team.

That leaves the Rangers and Mariners. The Rangers won’t improve much quite yet despite an experienced rotation and a core led by outfielders Joey Gallo and Nomar Mazara. They’ll need to undergo a full rebuild before significant improvement can occur. The Mariners are starting that process, though they still boast a respectable MLB roster. They could’ve probably contended this year if it weren’t for the start of a rebuild. But instead, they gave up some of their most talented players in exchange for minimal top prospects. The less talented roster will put the team into a situation similar to that of their division rivals, the Rangers. Despite a respectable roster with experience, the team won’t be talented enough to produce above average seasons.

National League

NL East

Atlanta Braves (93-69) (2nd Seed in NL Playoffs)
Philadelphia Phillies (92-70) (5th Seed in NL Playoffs)
Washington Nationals (84-78)
New York Mets (83-79)
Miami Marlins (61-101)

This will undoubtedly be the most competitive division in baseball. I see a young, but emerging Braves team repeating as the division winner, led by a big year from Freddie Freeman, significant contribution from new 3B Josh Donaldson, and a bounce back for SP Julio Teheran. In 2018, the Phillies were a star or two away from greatness. This off-season, they added C J.T. Realmuto, OF Andrew McCutchen, SS Jean Segura, and most of all, OF Bryce Harper. Led by Harper, the lineup will be loaded with talent, leading to a big year.

The Nats and Mets will also contend. The Nats made up for Harper’s departure by boosting the rotation with SPs Patrick Corbin and Anibal Sanchez. To add to it, they signed 2B Brian Dozier. Even without Harper, they should still be in good hands with Max Scherzer, Anthony Rendon, Juan Soto, and others. After adding 2B Robinson Cano among other stars, the Mets should also stay in contention, at least for this year.

The only team that’ll be out of this hectic NL East race is the Miami Marlins. The Marlins sold their entire outfield plus Dee Gordon and J.T. Realmuto in trades within the last two off-seasons. Without Realmuto, they will remain one of the worst teams in the league.

NL Central

Chicago Cubs (94-68) (1st Seed in NL Playoffs)
St. Louis Cardinals (93-69) (4th Seed in NL Playoffs)
Milwaukee Brewers (86-76)
Cincinnati Reds (80-82)
Pittsburgh Pirates (69-93)

I know people are concerned about the Cubs due to uncertainty about Yu Darvish’s health. But regardless of Darvish’s health, I think the Cubs have one of the best rotations in the league. Add in an underappreciated bullpen and a respectable lineup, and the roster begins to look underrated. I do have confidence that Darvish will be alright though.

The Cardinals should be Chicago’s biggest concern, as I expect the Cards to be knocking on Chicago’s door in the NL Central. With Paul Goldschmidt on board, they will combine their young, exciting pitching staff with a star-studded lineup and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Meanwhile, despite adding C Yasmani Grandal, I expect the Brewers to take a step back. I don’t trust 1B Jesus Aguilar or Jhoulys Chacin to repeat their strong 2018 seasons. With the rotation depleted and the lineup looking a little less overpowered, Milwaukee will fall behind as the NL Central competition gets more intense.

Meanwhile, the Reds will begin to take steps toward contention, led by new OF star Yasiel Puig and long time Reds 1B Joey Votto. They added a lot of experience to the rotation as well, so that should help. That leaves the Pirates in the division’s basement as they begin a rebuild. Their rotation should look pretty good this year, and when Gregory Polanco gets healthy, the outfield will thrive as well. However, I don’t fully trust Trevor Williams yet, and in such a tough division, I can’t see this rebuilding team finish very well.

NL West

Colorado Rockies (89-73) (3rd Seed in NL Playoffs)
Los Angeles Dodgers (85-77)
San Francisco Giants (84-78)
San Diego Padres (71-91)
Arizona Diamondbacks (68-94)

I think this might be the year when the Dodgers are finally dethroned. Despite a strong rotation led by Clayton Kershaw and the young Walker Buehler, the bullpen lacks depth beyond Kenley Jansen. In addition, they traded Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp for next to nothing. It does open up space in the outfield but the team will take a step back as a result. The infield already lacked depth with Brian Dozier leaving. Failing to sign Bryce Harper after the Puig/Kemp trade just made the depth problems worse.

This will allow the Rockies to win the division. Their rotation isn’t amazing, but they’ll be able to manage thanks to hitter friendly Coors Field and a strong bullpen to back the rotation up. It’s the star-studded lineup that will lead them to a division victory. The Giants are also closer to contention than you might think. They quietly boosted the rotation this off-season. This will add to their strong bullpen and allow them to achieve a winning record despite a subpar lineup and questionable outfield situation.

Even though they signed Manny Machado, the Padres won’t contend unless they significantly upgrade the rotation. Plus, they should have better luck contending once Fernando Tatis Jr. is in San Diego for a full season. They will finish ahead of the D-Backs, who will take a significant step back without Goldschmidt. That leaves SP Zack Greinke as the best player left, and there were trade rumors surrounding Greinke as well.

Part II: Playoff Bracket

When the Cubs won the World Series back in 2016, they set a precedent in the MLB. Their 5-year rebuild led to a World Series victory, and this has become a formula for World Series titles. The Astros, who were already following this formula, won the next year in 2017. Now, I think the Braves will be the next to do this. Their rebuild didn’t feel as long, because prospects like Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna Jr. developed quickly. But there are still more top prospects on the way, and thanks to this first wave of young talent, the Braves will be able to contend before their rebuild is finished. I think they may even be World Series ready.

The Bryce Harper-led Phillies, Atlanta’s division rival, will challenge them for the National League. Led by their HR-hitting duo of Stanton and Judge and upgraded rotation, the Yankees will come close as well. But I think the Braves are capable of outperforming these teams.

The Cubs and Astros should still be competitive in these playoffs and stay competitive down the stretch. But I think they will have their playoff runs cut short by a Red Sox team looking to repeat and a Phillies team looking for validation that Bryce Harper was worth the money.

Part III: Awards

Below are my projected finalists for the AL and NL MVPs, Cy Youngs, and Rookies of the Year.

AL MVP

1. Jose Ramirez CLE – Ramirez has emerged as one of the league’s premier power hitters. Expect him to come through at the plate on a more consistent basis and contend for the AL MVP award.

2. J.D. Martinez BOS – At the age of 31, I cannot see Martinez quite repeating what he did in 2018. But he will put up another consistent, 40-homer year despite just falling short of the MVP after playing over half of his games at DH.

3. Jose Altuve HOU – Altuve will return to MVP form after a 2018 that was subpar for his standards. His season will be highlighted by a hint of power mixed in with his speed and ability to get on base frequently.

HM: Giancarlo Stanton NYY

NL MVP

1. Nolan Arenado COL – His 8-year extension will be motivation to live up to expectations in Colorado. Expect an dominant offensive year to go along with his elite defensive skills.

2. Freddie Freeman ATL – Freeman will help lead a young Braves team to the first World Series of what could make for the MLB’s next dynasty. After emerging as the top first baseman in the league last year, he will contend for the MVP as his offensive stats continue to increase.

3. Christian Yelich MIL – After winning NL MVP in 2018, Yelich will run with the momentum and top off the prime of his career with another dominant season.

HM: Starling Marte PIT

AL ROTY

1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. TOR – This top prospect has the genetics and he’s been all out dominant in the minors. Expect him to make it up to Toronto early, earn the starting job at third and do the same in the majors, contending for Rookie of the Year.

2. Kyle Tucker HOU – Tucker may not have a starting job – yet. But he showed flashes of potential in 2018 and could get some time in the outfield or at DH in 2019.

3. Eloy Jiménez CWS – Another top prospect who needs just a few weeks in AAA before a major league call up. After that, expect him to earn a time share in the outfield and eventually (after a strong start) a starting job.

HM: Forrest Whitley HOU

NL ROTY

1. Peter Alonso NYM – If Alonso has a strong Spring Training, look for him to compete for the first base job as Todd Frazier, Jed Lowrie, Amed Rosario, and Robinson Cano split time between second, shortstop, and third. Cano could try playing first, but having Alonso there from Opening Day could be beneficial. I see him breaking out in his rookie year and winning NL Rookie of the Year.

2. Fernando Tatis Jr. SD – Tatis Jr. isn’t MLB ready yet, but I think he’ll make an immediate impact if they bring him up when the time is right. I could see a Hosmer-Kinsler-Tatis-Machado infield working out well. Luis Urias will have to wait until 2020 for another starting job.

3. Mitch Keller PIT – The Pirates’ first four starters have their jobs locked down. But if Keller gets off to a strong start in the minors, look for him to challenge Jordan Lyles for the #5 slot in the rotation and contend for NL Rookie of the Year.

HM: Victor Robles WSH

AL Cy Young

1. Corey Kluber CLE – Kluber heads into 2019 with something to prove. He needs to convince the Indians that he’s worth the money to keep around. The Indians don’t have much money to spend, so Kluber will need to put up a Cy Young-caliber year in order to do this.

2. Chris Sale BOS – If Sale can get healthy and stay healthy, he’ll be the best pitcher in this league. But he always ends up collapsing at the end of the year, so I have slightly more confidence in Kluber. However, maybe Alex Cora can figure out a way to allow him to stay healthy all year. If Cora can figure this out, Sale’s definitely worth re-signing.

3. Tyler Skaggs LAA – A healthy Skaggs showed potential last season, especially early on. With no clear ace atop the Angels rotation for 2019 and Shohei Ohtani restricted to just hitting, expect Skaggs to step it up and emerge as LA’s new ace, something they have longed for since Garrett Richards began to decline after LA’s 2014 playoff appearance.

HM: Justin Verlander HOU

NL Cy Young

1. Max Scherzer WSH – Expect Scherzer to emerge as the top pitcher in the league this year when Jacob deGrom takes a slight step back in his age 30 season. Scherzer has not let his age define him, and if anything, he has only gotten better with age. I don’t see a decline happening anytime soon for Mad Max, and he has another Cy Young year or two still ahead of him.

2. Clayton Kershaw LAD – Kershaw has dealt with lingering injuries, but when he’s on the mound and healthy, he has looked like the same Kershaw we’re used to seeing. Despite injuries, he has posted an ERA under 3.00 in each of the last 10 seasons. As usual, I expect Kershaw to contend for the Cy Young, especially if he remains healthy.

3. Julio Teheran ATL – Teheran hasn’t looked like the ace we thought he would be since 2014. But he is still just 28, and as long as it happens in the next year or two, I could definitely see him return to ace form and lead a young Braves rotation.

HM: Stephen Strasburg WSH

That’s all for this year’s MLB predictions. Stay tuned for more Red Sox and baseball coverage soon.

Top 5 Remaining MLB Free Agents and Where They’ll Sign

February 24, 2019February 24, 2019 Andrew Roberts MLB, MLB 2018-19 Free Agency 'Stros, Aaron Sanchez, Adam Jones, Astros, Atlanta, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore, Baltimore Orioles, Blue Jays, Boston, Boston Red Sox, Bradley Zimmer, Braves, Brew Crew, Brewers, Bryce Harper, Cactus League, Clayton Richard, Cleveland, Cleveland Indians, Craig Kimbrel, Dallas Keuchel, Free Agency, Friars, Giants, Gio Gonzalez, Grapefruit League, Greg Allen, Houston, Houston Astros, Indians, Jenrry Mejia, Jordan Luplow, Leonys Martin, Marcus Stroman, Matt Barnes, Matt Shoemaker, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, MLB Free Agency, MLB Free Agency 2018-19, Nationals, Nats, O's, Orioles, Padres, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies, Philly, Red Sox, Ryan Borucki, San Diego, San Diego Padres, San Fran, San Francisco, San Francisco Giants, Scott Boras, Sox, Toronto, Toronto Blue Jays, Tyler Naquin, Tyler Thornburg, Washington, Washington Nationals

Though Manny Machado has just signed a 10 year, $300 million contract with the Padres, Bryce Harper and many other top MLB free agents are still on the market with Cactus League and Grapefruit League action starting up. With Harper rumors really starting to heat up, I will be listing my Top 5 of the remaining MLB free agents and predicting their contracts. Feel free to comment with your thoughts. I’ll start with the obvious #1:

1. Bryce Harper, OF

2018 Team: Washington Nationals

If you’ve been following any kind of MLB off-season news, you’ve probably heard plenty about Harper, so I’ll keep this brief. The Nationals could still be in it to re-sign the 26-year old Harper after a strong start to his career in Washington. But the Phillies appear to be the current front runners. The latest rumors suggest that the Phillies are in Vegas with Harper and may have a deal done by Monday. But earlier this week, we heard the same thing about Friday, and it didn’t end up happening. Will Harper end up in Philly, or will a mystery team swoop in before the Phillies finalize things?

My Prediction: San Francisco Giants, 10 years, $330 million

I’ve heard things suggesting that the Giants aren’t up to offer a $300 million contract to Harper. But now that they are reportedly willing to offer a long-term deal, they could change their mind considering the mutual interest between Harper and San Fran. If the Giants came close to Philly’s offer, maybe Harper would sign there out of impatience. Plus, the Phillies are division rivals of the Nats, and the west coast is closer to Harper’s hometown.

2. Craig Kimbrel, CL

2018 Team: Boston Red Sox

Kimbrel’s agent made it clear that although Kimbrel has been stubborn about his contract, he will pitch in 2019. But with the late inning relief market already settling down, where does Kimbrel fit? Sure, he could re-sign with Atlanta. But you cannot discount Arodys Vizcaino as a closing option for the Braves.

My Prediction: Boston Red Sox, 4 years, $64 million

Kimbrel will eventually have to settle for a smaller contract, and if there’s any team who could still use relief help, it’s Boston. The Red Sox have been adamant about finding a closer internally. Who knows, Jenrry Mejia or Tyler Thornburg could bounce back. Matt Barnes could step it up. But I think the Red Sox will end up bringing back Kimbrel as a safety net once his price goes down. Barnes, Mejia, Thornburg, and others can set up Kimbrel.

3. Dallas Keuchel, SP

2018 Team: Houston Astros

Keuchel, like Harper, is a Scott Boras client, and Boras clients have tended to sign late into the off-season, so it’s not a huge surprise that Keuchel is still on the market. But unlike the relief market, there is still a handful of teams that could use starting pitching help. The Phillies, Braves, and Padres have been linked to Keuchel, but the Padres just signed Machado, and the Phillies aren’t going to turn attention to Keuchel unless they lose out on Harper. The Braves would be smarter to sign a lower-tier starter considering their surplus of SP prospects on the verge of a major league career. I see the Padres finding a cheaper option and a surprise team signing Kimbrel.

My Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays, 4 years, $68 million

The Blue Jays may have a decent rotation going with Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez, Matt Shoemaker, Clayton Richard, and Ryan Borucki. But they lack a true ace, and could use depth in case Borucki turns out to be a bust or Shoemaker and Richard are inconsistent or get hurt. Keuchel could help Toronto kill two birds with one stone. Why sign a top line starter with so many prospects about to crack the majors? Well, Toronto’s rebuild is a unique situation. With this legendary group of prospects, Toronto’s a pitcher or two away from contending during a rebuild.

4. Adam Jones, OF

2018 Team: Baltimore Orioles

When people think about all the quality players still on the FA market, they think Harper, Kimbrel, and Keuchel. But what about Adam Jones, who slashed .281/.313/.419 with 15 dingers despite a down year? Back in 2017, he put up a .787 OPS with 26 home runs. Though he is getting up there in age, I think he still has potential to succeed for the next few years to come. But where? He will likely end up with a team that needs OF help but cannot afford Harper. Maybe a small market team that hasn’t spent much this off-season could be a fit.

My Prediction: Cleveland Indians, 3 years, $48 million

The Indians spent a lot in 2016 and 2017, but after cheaping up by trading away Yonder Alonso and Edwin Encarnacion, they may have room for the outfield centerpiece they need. Jones would allow Bradley Zimmer, Leonys Martin, Tyler Naquin, Greg Allen, and Jordan Luplow to split time among the remaining two outfield spots. I don’t see any of them as full time starters, so this is a good depth signing. Maybe trading away one of their lower-end outfielders after could be a smart move. That way, the Indians will have less crowding and more talent.

5. Gio Gonzalez, SP

2018 Teams: Washington Nationals, Milwaukee Brewers

Gonzalez is a cheaper SP option that teams who cannot afford Keuchel may go after. Gonzalez had a strong year in 2018, making the case for a decent sized contract. But he hasn’t received much interest from teams besides the Brewers, who traded for him at the deadline. Who will end up signing him?

My Prediction: San Diego Padres, 3 years, $39 million

The Padres aren’t going to want to invest in Keuchel after signing Machado. So I think it’s more likely that they save a few bucks and add Gonzalez. You could make an argument that the entire Padres rotation is wide open. There is no pitcher on their current roster that I see as a surefire starter. But Gonzalez will provide the Padres with the rotation stability they need, with the help of another low-tier free agent starter or two.

That’s all for today. Stay tuned for MLB predictions once Harper finally makes his decision.

MLB 2018-19 Free Agency Predictions: Pitchers

November 20, 2018November 20, 2018 Andrew Roberts MLB, MLB 2018-19 Free Agency, Uncategorized 2018-19 MLB Free Agency, A.J. Ramos, Aaron Loup, Adam Ottavino, Adam Warren, Addison Reed, Andrew Miller, Arodys Vizcaino, Boone Logan, Brad Brach, Brad Hand, Brandon Maurer, Brent Honeywell, Bud Norris, Cam Bedrosian, Carson Smith, Chad Wallach, Charlie Morton, Chris Stratton, Chris Tillman, Cody Allen, Craig Kimbrel, Dallas Keuchel, Derek Holland, Drew Storen, Ervin Santana, Free Agency, Garrett Richards, Gio Gonzalez, Greg Holland, Hector Santiago, J.A. Happ, J.T. Realmuto, Jaime Garcia, Jake Diekman, James Shields, Jason Hammel, Jeanmar Gomez, Jenrry Mejia, Jerry Dipoto, Jeurys Familia, Joakim Soria, Joe Kelly, John Axford, Justin Wilson, Kelvin Herrera, Ken Giles, Kurt Suzuki, Lance Lynn, Marco Estrada, Mark Melancon, MLB, MLB 2018-19 Free Agency Predictions, MLB Free Agency, MLB Free Agency Predictions, Nathan Eovaldi, Patrick Corbin, Raisel Iglesias, Ryan Yarbrough, Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo, Shane Greene, Shohei Ohtani, Tony Sipp, Ty Blach, Tyler Beede, Tyler Clippard, Tyler Glasnow, Tyson Ross, Yovani Gallardo, Zach Britton, Zach Duke, Zach McAllister

Welcome to my 2nd annual MLB free agency predictions. Last off-season, things took a long time to get going due to a relatively dull free agent market. This year, that is not the case. We might have the best MLB free agent class in the history of my blog, and it’s bound to get going any minute now. That’s why I’m releasing my predictions in November and December this year rather than January. I wanted to get these out before the Winter Meetings, where a lot of big moves could occur.

Today, I will be sharing my predictions for free agent pitchers. Feel free to comment with your thoughts.

Below is my tentative schedule for my 2018-19 MLB free agency coverage.

MLB 2018-19 Free Agency Coverage – Tentative Schedule

Week of November 19: MLB 2018-19 Free Agency Predictions: Pitchers

Week of November 19 or 26: MLB 2018-19 Free Agency Predictions: Catchers & Infielders

Week of November 26 or December 3: MLB 2018-19 Free Agency Predictions: Outfielders & Trade Ideas

Week of December 3 or 10: Baseball Bits #11: Big Free Agent Contracts

Starting Pitchers

Top Tier

Note: These were made BEFORE the James Paxton trade

The Jays have a lot of infield prospects on the rise. But their starting rotation needs some help if they want to contend. They will surely go after the market’s top starters. They are open to bringing back J.A. Happ, but I think Dallas Keuchel and Ervin Santana fit their mold better. Keuchel will serve as Toronto’s ace, where they will need an upgrade with Marco Estrada leaving. Santana isn’t what he used to be, but will still boost their rotation, especially if he rebounds fully from his injury in 2018. Meanwhile, Happ will head to the Angels to provide stability in an injury prone rotation that will be without Shohei Ohtani. The Yankees will pursue a younger starter like Patrick Corbin to upgrade the rotation in the long term, and an older starter to supplement the rotation until younger Yankees pitchers are ready to take over.

Jerry Dipoto had intended to rebuild this off-season. But they have too much talent on the rise to just start over now. It would be a Marlins-like move to rebuild now. I think it would be smarter for them to add a mid to high tier starter such as Gio Gonzalez or Nathan Eovaldi and an outfielder or two to supplement the young talent. Charlie Morton will leave Houston for and sign with the Nationals, who could use a #3 starter to replace Gio Gonzalez and add depth to the rotation.

High to Mid-Tier Starters

Shields will return to the White Sox. They will seek to be led by young talent, but need Shields back for depth. The Padres will also bring back their veteran starter, Tyson Ross for similar reasons. I could also see them adding Garrett Richards among other veterans as future investments to guide their return to contention. Richards will miss 2019, but hopefully, he’ll come back as a better pitcher in 2020. I think Jason Hammel is a good veteran fit for the Yankees.

If the Rays want to make the playoffs, their “committee day” in their rotation isn’t going to fly. They’ll need to add rotation depth, and Estrada seems like a good fit for them. He has experience in the AL East, and a mid-tier starter or two is just what Tampa needs. The Orioles could also use another starter. They aren’t signing anyone too expensive as they start a rebuild, but Yovani Gallardo has been on the team before and could be a good bargain signing for them.

Mid to Low Tier Starters

Eovaldi really boosted his free agent profile in the playoffs. But I think the Red Sox will be willing to offer him a long term contract after his playoff performance. The Rays will add Derek Holland as another option for the rotation. Holland, Tyler Glasnow, and Brent Honeywell will likely fight for the final two spots in the rotation. I think Ryan Yarbrough fits best as a long reliever. Similar to the O’s, the Royals and Tigers will look for affordable rotation depth. I think Lynn and Santiago are good fits. I could see Chris Tillman joining the Braves, who may seek a veteran starter to fill in until their pitching prospects are ready. I think the Giants should sign a lower tier starter, such as Jaime Garcia to give them options if young starters Chris Stratton, Tyler Beede, and Ty Blach struggle.

Relief Pitchers

Top Tier Closers and Late-Inning Relievers

There has been a lot of hype surrounding Kimbrel after he turned down the qualifying offer, but I think he will return to the Red Sox. He just wanted a longer term deal. The teams that were in the running for Kimbrel such as the Angels and Phillies will settle for other top closers such as Mark Melancon and Zach Britton. I think Jeurys Familia, another top closer will go to the White Sox as they try to take steps toward contention. I could see the Mariners keeping active in the free agent market by adding another bullpen arm in Miller. The Reds could also use a bullpen arm to replace Drew Storen, and Brach seems to be a good fit. He can close or set up, and he and Raisel Iglesias could make a strong veteran-younger player late-inning combo.

Mid-Tier Closers

Pittsburgh’s #1 hole right now is their bullpen. They’ll look to add multiple quality relievers. As they rebuild, they are not in the running for the market’s top closers. But Herrera is a reasonable closing option for them. Some other rebuilding teams who need closers, such as the O’s, Royals, and Rangers, will have to settle for lower-tier closers such as Tyler Clippard and Cody Allen. Meanwhile, I see veteran closer Greg Holland headed to Tampa, hoping to rebound from a rough 2018. Holland is an affordable option for a Rays team that wants to make the jump from mediocre to playoff contender. Storen, another seasoned veteran, could make for a good duo with fellow late-inning reliever Addison Reed for Minnesota.

Low Tier Closer-Mid Tier Set-Up

Herrera isn’t quite enough to fill Pittsburgh’s late inning hole. Romo could be a good fit. The Brewers could also use another late inning arm. They don’t need a top tier guy, but someone like A.J. Ramos or Santiago Casilla could definitely help. I think Casilla will return to the A’s though, and Zach McAllister, another mid-tier reliever, will return to Detroit, where he spent just about a week in his final MLB stint of 2018. The Rockies could resign Adam Ottavino, but I think they will go for a slight upgrade, Justin Wilson, with the Indians adding Ottavino to supplement Brad Hand and replace Andrew Miller.

Low Tier Late Inning Relievers

The Braves have been a rumored suitor to bring back Craig Kimbrel, but they should trust Arodys Vizcaino as their closer and add a lower tier late inning reliever to support him (I see them adding Maurer). The White Sox will sign Tony Sipp as a slight upgrade over Jeanmar Gomez, who I have going to Detroit. Gomez and McAllister will set up closer Shane Greene. The Royals will also look for an affordable bullpen arm. They should be set in the late-inning department with the duo of Clippard and Boone Logan. The Mets will be active in this free agent market, and they need late-inning help. Aaron Loup is a good addition, but I don’t have them adding a closer. Jenrry Mejia is eligible to return in 2019, and the Mets should be hopeful he can close. Duke will play a similar role in Toronto, setting up closer Ken Giles.

High Tier 7th Inning Relief

If the Red Sox bring back Kimbrel, they should be fine to let Carson Smith and maybe even Joe Kelly test the market. I think Smith will find a destination despite his injury, as the Twins sign him to supplement the late-inning duo of Storen and Reed. The Angels, who will still look for more bullpen help beyond Britton, will sign Kelly. If he’s having a good year, Kelly can become the full-time set up man in LA over Cam Bedrosian. Norris, a former starter, can provide the Rays with a trustworthy 7th inning arm. Jake Diekman should play a similar role in San Francisco. The O’s and Reds could also use bullpen help, but cannot afford the top guys in the market. They will settle for Axford and Warren, respectively.

That’s all for Part 1 of my MLB FA Predictions. Stay tuned for Part 2, where I will evaluate the catcher market and the infield market. This comes in good timing, as Kurt Suzuki just signed in Washington, and J.T. Realmuto trade rumors are reaching their peak.

Note: I think the Marlins will end up trading Realmuto to Atlanta with Kurt Suzuki off the table. The Marlins should sign another catcher to supplement Chad Wallach.

My 2018 MLB Playoff Bracket/Predictions

October 2, 2018October 3, 2018 Andrew Roberts MLB, Red Sox, Uncategorized 'Stros, A's, Aaron Judge, AL Wild Card, AL Wild Card Game, ALCS, ALDS, American League, Astros, Athletics, Atlanta, Atlanta Braves, Boston, Boston Red Sox, Braves, Brew Crew, Brewers, Carlos Carrasco, Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Cleveland Indians, Colorado, Colorado Rockies, Corey Kluber, Craig Kimbrel, Cubbies, Cubs, David Price, Dodgers, Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Houston, Houston Astros, Indians, J.D. Martinez, Justin Verlander, LA, LA Dodgers, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Manny Machado, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, MLB Playoffs, Mookie Betts, National League, New York, New York Yankees, NL Wild Card, NL Wild Card Game, NLCS, NLDS, NY, NY Yankees, Oakland, Oakland A's, Oakland Athletics, Playoffs, Red Sox, Red Sox Nation, Rockies, Sox, Trevor Bauer, Tribe, Wild Card Round, world series, Yankees, Yanks

The MLB Playoff Bracket is set after yesterday’s tiebreaker games, and the MLB playoffs begin tonight at 8:00 PM. Above is my complete bracket for the MLB Playoff Challenge. Below is a brief look at each match-up. Feel free to comment with your thoughts.

American League

AL Wild Card Game

(4) New York Yankees over Oakland Athletics (5)

Oakland’s pitching staff has been better this year, but I do not see their rotation as an elite playoff rotation. The Yankees lineup will tear this pitching staff apart, led by the home run hitting duo of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

ALDS

(1) Boston Red Sox over New York Yankees (4) , 3-2

The Yankees have given Boston a hard time, so I think this series will be close. The Yankees have been able to dominate against certain Red Sox starters such as David Price. But the Red Sox have the home-field advantage, and they have two MVP-caliber players in their lineup, Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. The Sox lineup has the depth and talent to outdo the Yankees pitching staff.

(2) Houston Astros over Cleveland Indians (3) , 3-0

The Astros have most of what they had in last year’s World Series: a stacked lineup filled with youth, power, and speed and a dominant playoff rotation. They come in to this series with a weaker bullpen though. Both of these lineups are playoff-caliber, but I see this series as a battle of two of the league’s top rotations, the Astros led by Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, and the Indians led by Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, and Carlos Carrasco. These games will be low scoring, but I see the Astros sweeping as their lineup is able to manage the tough opposing pitching more easily.

ALCS

(1) Boston Red Sox over Houston Astros (2) , 4-3

The Astros have one of the best rotations in the league plus an amazing lineup. But the Red Sox have one thing Houston doesn’t. A strong closer in Craig Kimbrel. If their rotation can hold up for a good portion of the series and their offense gets going like it has for a lot of the season, I think they can do something they haven’t done much of this year: beating the other elite teams. The Red Sox have taken advantage of their easy match-ups, but it’s time for them to step it up when it matters.

National League

NL Wild Card Game

(4) Chicago Cubs over Colorado Rockies (5)

The Rockies lineup is very talented, but despite improvement in 2018 that got them here, I don’t see their pitching holding up on the road against a well-rounded Cubs team. Chicago will take advantage of the Rockies’ weak pitching staff, get out to an early lead, and their pitching staff will be able to help the Cubs hold it easily.

NLDS

(4) Chicago Cubs over Milwaukee Brewers (1) , 3-1

The Brewers rode their momentum to a division title. They have a young, talented lineup that’s mostly a product of the 2017-18 off-season and a huge MLB Trade Deadline. But I think this Brewers lineup is containable, and if there’s any pitching staff in the National League that can contain them, it’s the Cubs. The Cubs should also thrive offensively against a young Brewers rotation that’s still developing.

(2) Los Angeles Dodgers over Atlanta Braves (3) , 3-1

Led by young talent, the Braves pulled out an NL East victory. However, I think they rode easy division competition to this victory. Their rotation is okay, but I don’t see their lineup as playoff caliber. The Nationals would likely be here if they weren’t so hampered by injuries this season. They may have won it all. But the Dodgers can contain a young, developing team like the Braves. Led by Trade Deadline acquisition Manny Machado, Their lineup has the power and talent to give this Atlanta rotation trouble, and their deep pitching staff will benefit them significantly. I see this series as an easy win for the Dodgers.

NLCS

(4) Chicago Cubs over Los Angeles Dodgers (2) , 4-3

This will be a very interesting series. The 2016 World Series champion against the 2017 World Series runner-up. The Dodgers still have a World Series-caliber roster. Their rotation is more than capable, and they come in with a stronger offensive attack this year. But the Cubs have a deep, young lineup, and although they might struggle against this solid Dodgers rotation, I could see them taking advantage of a weak Dodger bullpen. The Dodgers will put up a serious fight, but I think the Cubs pitching staff can contain them for a good portion of the series.

World Series

(1) Boston Red Sox over Chicago Cubs (4) , 4-3

I think this is the year for the Red Sox. Two of Boston’s last three World Series titles were partially due to momentum. The Cubs have a World Series caliber roster. They haven’t seen the Red Sox yet, and they may very well be a better team. The NL was a very competitive league, while the AL was a league of extremes. Chicago’s record may very well be an NL equivalent of the Red Sox’s record.

But I think the Red Sox will ride the momentum they gather in the ALDS and ALCS to win the World Series. Their pitching will need to finally hold it together, but I think they are capable, as long as they can rely on the momentum this talented lineup gathers. It won’t be easy against a strong, well-rounded Cubs team, but I don’t think Red Sox Nation should give up hope.

That’s all for my MLB Playoff Predictions. Stay tuned for more baseball articles.

Red Sox @ Yankees May 8-10 2018: Series Preview

May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 Andrew Roberts MLB, Red Sox, Uncategorized 'Stros, Aaron Judge, AL East, American League, Anaheim, Angels, Astros, Boston, Boston Red Sox, Brett Gardner, C.C. Sabathia, Christian Vazquez, Cleveland, Cleveland Indians, Craig Kimbrel, David Price, Didi Gregorius, Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Nunez, Eduardo Rodriguez, fenway Park, Gary Sanchez, Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, Greg Bird, Hanley, Hanley Ramirez, Houston, Houston Astros, Indians, J.D. Martinez, Jackie Bradley, Jackie Bradley Jr., JBJ, Joe Kelly, Kansas City, Kansas City Royals, KC, KC Royals, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Miguel Andujar, Minnesota, Minnesota Twins, Mookie Betts, New York, New York Yankees, NY Yankees, Rangers, Rays, Red Sox, Rick Porcello, Royals, Sandy Leon, Sox, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas, Texas Rangers, Twins, Tyler Austin, X-Man, Xander Bogaerts, Yankees, Yanks

The Red Sox have had it easy in terms of their schedule over the last week and a half. They played the Rays, Rangers, and Royals, taking 7 of 10 during that stretch. But now they face the Yankees, who have won 15 of 16 against some of the AL’s best. They swept the Twins, Indians, and Angels, and nearly swept Houston. They have been boosted by the emergence of Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres, and are doing fine without 1B Greg Bird. How will they fare against Boston, the only AL team that still has a better record than the Yankees? They will fight for not just the AL East crown, but the American League crown in this series. They are arguably the two best teams in baseball right now, which makes this intense rivalry even better.

Previous 2018 Results

The Red Sox have already played the Yankees once this season at Fenway Park. The Yankees had even more injury problems and did not have Gleyber in the majors back in mid-April when this series occurred. Despite losing Xander Bogaerts to the DL shortly before the series, the Red Sox, who had started 8-1 due to spotless pitching and an easy schedule, took advantage. They took 2 of 3 in the series. The Red Sox lineup had dominated in Game 1 to bring the Sox a 14-1 win. David Price had a rough Game 2 and left early with an injury. But the Red Sox attempted to come back, and after Tyler Austin spiked the infielder sliding into 2nd, Joe Kelly got revenge when he hit Austin. It ended in a bench-clearing brawl that got Kelly and Austin suspended. Porcello continued a strong start in the 3rd game as the Red Sox won, 6-3. I did a recap of that game when the Sox and Bruins won important games on the same night.

Big Night For Boston: Sox, Bruins Win On Big Stage

How They Line-Up Now

Both teams have powerful, home-run hitting lineups. But both of these lineups have a weak spot. The Yankees have seen several hitters who are usually pretty good slump. Brett Gardner, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez all have a batting average under .230. Sanchez is batting .198. It is balanced out by strong seasons from Didi Gregorius and Aaron Judge, as well as early success out of Andujar and Torres. I was never too high on Gregorius, but he has really proven himself this year. The Red Sox do not have reliable hitters at the end of the lineup. Both regular catchers and JBJ are batting under .200, and Eduardo Nunez has also struggled. But J.D. Martinez, Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez, and Xander Bogaerts have all thrived and led this team.

The Red Sox have the starting pitching advantage, but not all of the pitching match-ups in this series are favorable for the Red Sox. The Red Sox don’t have too much of a bullpen to rely on, either. Craig Kimbrel has been flawless, but the rest of the bullpen has not always stepped it up when the starter struggles. The Red Sox have to rely on either an offensive explosion or a spotless, long-lasting starter to win quality games.

Pitching Match-Ups

Game 1 (5/8): BOS: Drew Pomeranz (1-1, 6.14 ERA)

vs. NYY: Luis Severino (5-1, 2.11)

By no means is Severino going to be easy to face but I could see Pomeranz stepping it up on the big stage here. Once Severino leaves, it will be the offense’s turn to make an impact.

Note: Price has been scratched from his Wednesday start due to hand numbness. I’m beginning to agree with that 98.5 caller who talked about the stress disorder with David Price. Can he handle the pressure of a Red Sox-Yankees game?

Game 2 (5/9): BOS: Rick Porcello (5-0, 2.14 ERA)

NYY: Masahiro Tanaka (4-2, 4.39 ERA)

Tanaka has been pretty good this year, but Porcello has been flawless this year. Moving him a day up brings this pitching match-up into our favor.

Game 3 (5/10): BOS: Eduardo Rodriguez (3-0, 5.29 ERA)

NYY: C.C. Sabathia (2-0, 1.39 ERA)

I like Eduardo Rodriguez. He has very high potential, but C.C. Sabathia has been great when healthy, and I’m wondering how E-Rod will perform under the pressure of Yankee Stadium.

My Prediction: Red Sox Take 2 of 3

Crazy 8th for Sox 8th Win

April 8, 2018April 8, 2018 Andrew Roberts Game Recaps, MLB, Red Sox, Uncategorized Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge, Adeiny Hechavarria, Alex Colome, Andrew Benintendi, Andrew Kittredge, Billy McKinney, Bobby Poynner, Bogey, Boston, Boston Red Sox, Brad Miller, Brandon Drury, Brian Johnson, Brock Holt, C-Vazzy, C.C. Sabathia, C.J. Cron, Carlos Gomez, Carson Smith, Craig Kimbrel, Daniel Robertson, E-Rod, Eduardo Nunez, Eduardo Rodriguez, Gary Sanchez, Giancarlo Stanton, Hanley, Hanley Ramirez, Hector Velazquez, J.D. Martinez, Jacoby Ellsbury, Joe Kelly, Joey Wendle, Kevin Kiermaier, Matt Andriese, Matt Duffy, Mitch Moreland, MLB, Mookie Betts, New York, New York Yankees, Rafael Devers, Rays, Red Sox, Red Sox-Yankees, Ryan Yarbrough, Sox, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Rays, Tyler Wade, Xander Bogaerts, Yankees, Yanks

After a 7-1 start to the season for the Red Sox, things were not looking good for them today. They were down 7-2 heading into the 8th inning, as the Rays had scored at least one run in six straight innings. Eduardo Rodriguez had been knocked out of the game after 3.2 innings, forcing the Red Sox to use numerous relievers to finish off the game. The bullpen struggled as Hector Velazquez, Bobby Poyner, and Brian Johnson gave up four runs in 3 1/3 innings But the Red Sox came all the way back to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-7 and extend their winning streak to eight games. Hanley Ramirez and Mookie Betts extended their hitting streaks to 7 games each, as they led the Sox offense.

The Red Sox started off strong with a leadoff double by Mookie Betts, and Betts was driven in by Hanley Ramirez’s groundout. But the Rays struck back quickly, with DH C.J. Cron hitting a solo homer. Early on, Eduardo Rodriguez was doing well, striking out five batters, including the side in the 1st inning. But the Rays were working the count and and E-Rod’s was over 70 after three innings.

While the Rays were not crushing the ball after Cron’s home run, they scored one run every inning from the 2nd all the way to the 7th. In the 3rd inning, E-Rod gave up a walk followed by a infield single that was originally ruled an out. Matt Duffy was clearly safe, so it was a smart challenge by the Rays. The run scored on a double by Carlos Gomez.

In the 4th inning, Daniel Robertson reached on another infield single for the Rays. 3B Rafael Devers could not make the throw in time. That was followed by a Brad Miller walk, and Adeiny Hechavarria drove in the run with a bloop single that Andrew Benintendi couldn’t quite get to. The Rays were trying to continue the rally, as Matt Duffy singled again after E-Rod left the game, but Hector Velazquez came in to get the last out.

Velazquez gave up a run in the next inning, as Daniel Robertson singled, stole second, and came home on Brad Miller’s base hit. The Sox chipped away in the bottom of that inning. They loaded the bases after a walk, a Christian Vazquez single, and another walk. Rays reliever Ryan Yarbrough had come in to replace Andrew Kittredge after two innings. Today, the Rays reliever combo to start was game was able to hold the Sox to just two runs through six innings, but it was not easy.

With two outs in the fifth, Hanley Ramirez ripped an infield single that Adeiny Hechavarria snagged to save more runs from scoring. J.D. Martinez followed, but struck out with the bases loaded. Martinez was the only Sox starter without a hit, but that did not keep the Sox from winning.

The Rays scored again in the 6th after Kevin Kiermaier hit a triple off the Green Monster to drive in Matt Duffy, who had walked. Kiermaier hit the triple off of Bobby Poyner, but Velazquez was charged with the run as he had walked Duffy before leaving the game. Brian Johnson came in in the 7th and struggled, giving up two more runs. Daniel Robertson walked, and came home on a triple by pinch hitter Joey Wendle. On that play, Xander Bogaerts hurt his ankle as he had to chase the ball into the Rays dugout after throwing to third before Devers was there. He will be evaluated further on Monday, but his timetable is currently unknown. Bogaerts was helped off the field, and it was really concerning when he couldn’t leave without assistance because he has been Boston’s best hitter so far this season. Brock Holt came in to replace him.

Tampa scored their second run of the inning off Johnson after a sac fly drove in Wendle. The Sox failed to get things going in the bottom of the 7th, but after Carson Smith came into the game, the Rays failed to score another run. They loaded the bases after a walk, a Carlos Gomez single, and a walk. But Smith escaped the inning by striking out Daniel Robertson.

This looked like it was going to be a Rays win, as after Hanley Ramirez led things off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, the next two batters struck out and flew out.

But with two outs, Mitch Moreland, who was a doubles machine last year, hit his first double (and hit) of 2018, driving in Ramirez to make it 7-3 Rays. Eduardo Nunez singled and Moreland advanced to third. Rafael Devers then knocked a ball down the third base line that bounced off the left field garage, allowing both Moreland and Nunez to score.

Jul 5, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) reacts after giving up a home run against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

With that, Rays reliever Matt Andriese was done, and Rays closer Alex Colome came in, hoping to secure the 7-5 lead the Rays were still holding on to. The Red Sox had done well against Colome in the home opener. Just in case the rally continued, Cora got star closer Craig Kimbrel warming up in the bullpen next to Joe Kelly.

Christian Vazquez kept the rally alive with a base hit. Devers scored, making it 7-6 Red Sox. Vazquez advanced to second on another wild pitch. Mookie Betts tied it up with a line single to left as Vazquez came in to score with a nifty slide to avoid the tag. Andrew Benintendi kept the rally alive by doubling to the left field gap to drive in Betts. The outfielders were playing shallow as Benny’s double did not reach the Green Monster. It was now 8-7 Red Sox.

Kimbrel came in and quickly retired the side, as the Red Sox locked up their comeback victory, 8-7. This was by far their most exciting game of the season. The Sox faced easy opponents, but the Red Sox are now 8-1 to start the season, their best record ever after nine games. They had not even started 7-1 since 1904, a World Series-winning year.

The Red Sox head into their three-game series against the Yankees on fire. Will they win their first series against their archrivals? The Yankees have been depleted by injuries, and are just 5-5 after losing to Baltimore today in a 12 inning game. With Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird, Brandon Drury, Aaron Hicks, Jacoby Ellsbury, C.C. Sabathia, and Billy McKinney all injured, the Sox should certainly have the edge.

Red Sox Report: Sox Off to Dominant Start, But Could Face Tougher Road Ahead

April 7, 2018May 6, 2018 Andrew Roberts MLB, Red Sox, Red Sox Report, Uncategorized Alex Cora, Boston, Boston Red Sox, Brian Johnson, Chris Sale, Craig Kimbrel, David Price, Drew Pomeranz, E-Rod, Eduardo Rodriguez, Hanley, Hanley Ramirez, Hector Velazquez, J.D. Martinez, Marlins, Miami, Miami Marlins, Michael Chavis, MLB, New York, New York Yankees, Rafael Devers, Rays, Red Sox, Rick Porcello, Steven Wright, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Rays, X-Man, Xander Bogaerts, Yankees

Welcome to my first Red Sox Report article of 2018. Today, I will be talking about my opinion on the Red Sox this week, and what I expect in the coming days. I will also be talking about interesting recent Red Sox headlines.

Is It Time to Get Concerned About The Red Sox’s Offensive Struggles, Especially J.D. Martinez’s?

JD-Martinez-RedSox-BaseballBits7

Up until today, J.D. Martinez had not hit a home run, and the Red Sox had only scored more than 4 runs in a game once this season. Keep in mind that this is against rebuilding teams, and the Rays only have three regular starters, filling the rest of their rotation with committee days. Besides Xander Bogaerts, who has shown flashes of power in a potential breakout season, and Hanley Ramirez, who is looking to rebound, the Red Sox have not been that good at the plate.

Sure, they had a 10-run game today. So they are capable of hitting. But will the lineup show up when they need to? J.D. Martinez is the most concerning to me. He was here to be a clutch home run hitter, and so far he has hit just 1 home run, which came when the Red Sox had already practically locked in a victory. Despite a 6-game hitting streak, I am getting worried.

Red Sox Rotation Looking Dominant, Sign of Good Things to Come?

The Red Sox rotation has looked great so far, and they were without Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Steven Wright to this point. David Price has looked like his old self in two starts against his former team, the Rays. But will he be able to keep this up against tougher opponents? I’m sure Chris Sale will be able to keep doing what he’s doing, especially if he pitches to contact more like new manager Alex Cora was hoping for. Rick Porcello also looks like he could rebound, and he has just had two strong starts against the Rays, who caused him serious problems in 2017.

Even Brian Johnson and Hector Velazquez, who are not going to be starting regularly much longer are doing well. But like I said, the Sox are playing rebuilding teams, so we better hope that the offense wakes up and the rotation keeps up the good work when we start playing tougher opponents. Things also depend on how E-Rod and Pomeranz do in their return, but if they struggle, we do have Johnson, Steven Wright (who is also hurt at the moment), and Velazquez.

Will Alex Cora’s Unique Decisions Help the Red Sox Significantly?

Cora has been a big part of this team’s success so far. He has made good moves by giving guys the rest they need, helping Chris Sale and David Price get more innings by pitching to contact, and saving their best stuff for later in the year by giving them rest, and only challenging plays when absolutely necessary. I like his conservative style, and he will help the Red Sox, but if he goes too far, he could cost us early on by resting guys when they could be helping the team win. He wants to save guys for October, but early success is key because the playoffs are no guarantee for any team.

Injury Update: E-Rod To Return Sunday, How Will The Injuries Affect Us Down the Road?

It appears that we have done fine without Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Dustin Pedroia so far, but as we face tougher opponents, it may hold us back. However, there is good news. E-Rod will come off the disabled list to make a start against the Rays tomorrow. If he can get off to a good start and is not held back by his knee injury, he will help the Red Sox significantly. We may be able to get away with a 4-man rotation until Pomeranz comes back, especially in weeks with more days off.

But I’m sure Johnson will get starts, and Velazquez may even stick around. Cora’s philosophy has been giving guys more rest, not less. So keeping more starters in the rotation despite injuries may be a good idea. They could even consider sticking with a 6-man rotation to save their best stuff for October, especially when Wright and Pomeranz return. As for Dustin Pedroia, I think we should be fine with Nunez at second until he returns, but when he does, we will be able to give more infielders rest, including a recovering Pedey.

We will need strong pitching from the rotation, as our bullpen has been inconsistent and unreliable. Craig Kimbrel has done well, but the Sox have nobody to set him up.

Will Hanley and Bogaerts Build On Their Early Success?

Xander Bogaerts has been straight up dominant so far. He has hinted at a breakout season by hitting two homers, including a grand slam in the team’s first eight games. He has batted .371/.405/.743 with 9 RBI. I think he can emerge as a 5-tool player, adding power hitting to his resume.

I could also see Hanley Ramirez bouncing back. He led this team during the 2-game series against the Marlins, where Hanley started his career. But he also thrived at Fenway, as he was the hero of the home opener in an extra-innings walk-off win. He has also hit a home run, and now that he is healthy and motivated (he is in a contract year), he will be a strong asset for the Sox. I just hope Hanley and Bogey can keep it up against tougher opponents, especially in their upcoming series against the Yankees.

How Will Michael Chavis’ 80-game PED suspension affect the Red Sox?

Chavis was Boston’s top prospect, and while we have Devers at third, it’s always good to have a strong farm system, and this is a major setback for Chavis, and down with Chavis will go the Red Sox farm system. The Red Sox traded away many of their strongest prospects in a once stacked farm system when working their way back towards contention in 2016 and 2017. It hurts to lose Chavis, one of their top prospects remaining, to a suspension. Using PEDs could give him problems staying out of trouble throughout his career, as players who use steroids have a history of frequent suspensions after being caught. We will also have to see if Chavis is really the same without relying on PEDs.

Led by Rotation, Bogaerts, Devers, and Hanley, Red Sox Start Season 7-1, Hope to Continue Success vs. Yankees and Beyond

I expected a strong start for the Red Sox due to their schedule, but I have been overall impressed with how they have done, and if they stay hot, they could continue to dominate. They have a 7 game winning streak going, led by a strong rotation. The lineup has struggled a bit, but Bogaerts, Devers, and Hanley have made up for the struggles of the rest of the lineup. I hope J.D. Martinez can begin to help the lineup more too.

The Red Sox will face their true test this week when they host their archrivals, the New York Yankees. The Yankees are facing the injury bug right now, and have had depth problems with so many players injured. They have had to force players into starting jobs who aren’t quite reliable starters yet. But they are still a tough opponent, and the Red Sox will have to be at their best to win this series.

That’s all for this edition of the Red Sox Report. Stay tuned for more Red Sox coverage coming soon.

Red Sox Offense Sparks Comeback vs. Yankees

August 19, 2017 Andrew Roberts Game Recaps, MLB, Red Sox Aaron Hicks, Addison Reed, Andrew Benintendi, Bogey, Boston, Boston Red Sox, Brett Gardner, Chase Headley, Christian Vazquez, Craig Kimbrel, Didi Gregorius, Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Nunez, Gary Sanchez, Heath Hembree, JBJ, Joe Kelly, Mitch Moreland, Mookie Betts, New York, New York Yankees, Rafael Devers, Red Sox, Robby Scott, Ronald Torreyes, Sox, Todd Frazier, Xander Bogaerts, Yankees, Yanks

It was the bottom of the 7th, with the Sox down 6-3. But the bases were loaded for Mookie Betts. He flew out, but Vazquez scored from third. That was followed by an Andrew Benintendi single that knocked in JBJ. After Hanley Ramirez loaded the bases again with a walk, Mitch Moreland came in to pinch hit. He got a nice pinch hit single, and both Nunez and Benintendi scored! The Red Sox had taken the 7-6 lead with a 4-run 7th!

The Red Sox won the series opener against the Yankees 9-6, in a back and forth game. Drew Pomeranz did exit in the 4th with back spasms, and the bullpen gave up 6 runs in the next 3 innings. However, the Red Sox were able to come back as the offense sparked and both Addison Reed and Craig Kimbrel had good outings.

Pomeranz started off the night strong. He struck out 4 and gave up just 4 hits in the first 3 innings. Meanwhile, the Red Sox offense was ambitious to start off the game strong. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 2nd, Xander Bogaerts hit a huge double off the monster that almost left the ballpark. Then with Bogey on 2nd, the red hot Rafael Devers came up to bat. Devers hit it in the same direction, right towards the monster. But this one was gone! Rafael Devers had hit another home run, his 7th career dinger, and he had only played 19 games so far.

The Red Sox had a 2-0 lead through 3. However, in the 4th, Pomeranz started throwing the ball way off, and they knew he was hurt. He had to be pulled from the game. Christian Vazquez extended Boston’s lead in the 5th though with a leadoff solo shot. He crushed it and it almost left the park completely.

But the Yankees struck back in the 6th. Headley singled, and Todd Frazier hit a 2-run shot to left center. The Red Sox were leading 3-2 but the Yankees were on a roll, and it continued in the 7th, starting with a Gary Sanchez leadoff solo shot to tie the game.

The Yankees weren’t done after that. Joe Kelly walked Gregorius and Headley singled to make it 1st and 2nd. Then Heath Hembree came in, only to walk another batter and load the bases for Ronald Torreyes. Torreyes hit a long single off the monster, and not just 1, but 2 runs scored. It was now 5-3 Yankees.

The Yanks weren’t done either. A Brett Gardner walk loaded the bases again, and after Robby Scott, the third pitcher of the inning hit Aaron Hicks by the pitch, the Yankees had a 3-run lead! The Red Sox ended up bringing in Addison Reed to finish the inning, their 4th pitcher in the 7th.

But the Red Sox struck back in the bottom of the 7th. Vazquez got on base again with a single, and JBJ walked to make it 1st and 2nd. Nunez got on base on an infield single, and the bases were loaded with just 1 out. Mookie Betts hit a sac fly to score in Vazquez. Then with men on 1st and 2nd, Benintendi singled to knock in JBJ! It was now just 6-5 Yankees. The Red Sox were coming back, and Mitch Moreland got the lead back for Boston with a pinch hit 2-run single! It was now 7-6 Red Sox going into the 8th.

Addison Reed pitched a quality inning for the Sox, and they scored again in the 8th. Devers singled and Vazquez walked. With JBJ batting, they each stole a base! So JBJ was up with 2 runners in scoring position, and single was enough to knock them both in. Now the Red Sox were the team with a 3 run lead.

Kimbrel came in and struck out the side to end the game! The Red Sox had won 9-6! What a game to start another series in this epic rivalry.

Chris Sale takes the mound tomorrow in hopes of another 10+ K game, and a win for the Red Sox. Will the Sox clinch the series with their ace on the mound?

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